Touchstone 1 - Stray

said, but added more seriously: “Some of this is a trifle vicious.”
    “No Heart Mind follower will embrace the idea that Muina is not our original home,” Alay said. “I have to admit I find it strange myself. But you truly believe that, don’t you Caszandra?”
    “Earth has fossil record going back millions years,” I said, coming out of my shower-room, still working on my hair. I’ve been considering cutting it short lately, because even though the showers are very fancy things that blow gales of hot air at you for drying, it’s getting annoying having to work out the tangles. How Taarel manages those twirly pigtail things I don’t know. “Suppose possible Muina has one too, that people came from Muina to Earth millions years ago. Not very likely simultaneous identical evolution two different planets.”
    “Would that bother you?” Mara asked. “If your people were truly Muinans?”
    “No. Lot of people Earth would think that great fun. And lot of people Earth wouldn’t.” I shrugged at Maze, who was watching me closely while we waited. Heart Mind was the main Taren philosophy/religion based on venerating Muina as a mother, and there seemed to be quite a few followers who were calling ‘me’ interesting names. “Unless upset Heart Mind follower likely get in KOTIS and push me down stair, don’t care what say. Don’t know anyone but people here. They not likely make me talk to media yes?”
    “You’re covered by the same privacy arrangements as the Setari.” Maze gave me one of his approving captain nods, glad I wasn’t going to be upset. “And I think I can safely say that KOTIS isn’t going to let the media anywhere near you.”
    “I once volunteered to be a sacrificial offering to the media,” Lohn said, coming out to give my shoulder a squeeze. “The interest in us is so voracious that a couple of us gave strictly anonymous interviews to a few selected representatives. KOTIS also releases details of spaces we clear to ease the hunger.”
    “Do you watch the fictions about Setari?”
    Maze pulled a face, but Lohn shrugged. “Sometimes. The Hidden War keeps close to the actual issues we face. I don’t think I’ve seen or read anything which hasn’t included some wild improbabilities for purposes of drama. KOTIS isn’t nearly so rife with intrigue, and we don’t bend the rules half so often.”
    “Let alone take trips into the Ena for romantic interludes,” Mara said, fluffing her hair as she and Alay came out. “Hurry up you two; my stomach is eating through its lining.”
    We went off to lunch. First Squad, particularly Lohn, were really tired, but I realised they were sticking with me while they looked through more of the discussion about me, and until they had some official direction on what the response to that would be. Which was to announce that a displaced person had indeed been part of the Setari mission which had unlocked Muina, and that this person originated from Muina’s ‘sister planet’ Earth, which unfortunately did not possess developed talents or the knowledge of the Lantarens.
    And I’m absolutely not allowed to go out into the city for the foreseeable future. Bleh. Mara says we can do more dodging practice to make up for it.
    Thursday, March 27
    Behind the news
    Mara worked me into the ground today. First dodging, and then jogging around the obstacle park. Later she showed me more things you could do with your suit: how to make the weaponry and even covering your head. Then we swam.
    I’ve another rotation with First Squad tomorrow, then another day of Mara, then another rotation. After that there’s nothing booked except my inevitable medical exams, but Mara said that I may be sent to Muina again.
    I’m thoroughly bored of reading stories of the unlocking of Muina and the increasingly unlikely descriptions of me. The bits I don’t already know are the bits which make me feel bad. I don’t think these Heart Minders are really likely to try and hurt me, but it does make me uncomfortable to have upset people just by existing. I’m glad that I’m assigned to First Squad for a while, and that Mara’s left me too tired to fret too much.
    Which is probably why she’s doing it.
    Friday, March 28
    Roaming
    Today’s rotation was the closest I’ve come to being in danger working with First Squad. Another unstable rotation, which took us to a space full of these big metal containers stacked in rows, like you’d see at a port. It wasn’t the space